as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of sleuths
Online sleuths think you guys pulled the look of those quotes from Revolut.
—
Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 23 Feb. 2026
Now that study is coming under fire, as multiple scientists and sleuths raise serious concerns about the data and point out inconsistencies in the trial.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
While design-minded sleuths can pick out these details and assign allegorical meaning to them, there are other subtle hints throughout the show as well.
—Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
In addition, independent media company 404 Media recently reported on a mass shooting simulation game created on Roblox that online sleuths linked back to Van Rootselaar.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
That changed earlier this week when internet sleuths found him on the League, a popular online dating app, and began sharing screenshots of his dating profile across various social media platforms.
—Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Seven strangers stranded in a snowstorm at Monkswell Manor all become suspects, and sleuths, when a local woman is murdered.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 4 Feb. 2026
In Short’s case, the flattening is particularly egregious, because the inchoate facts of her life are shoehorned into the obsessions of amateur sleuths who continue to get those facts wrong.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Internet sleuths noticed Baldoni had not posed for photos with Lively on the red carpet.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 23 Feb. 2026
Now that study is coming under fire, as multiple scientists and sleuths raise serious concerns about the data and point out inconsistencies in the trial.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
While design-minded sleuths can pick out these details and assign allegorical meaning to them, there are other subtle hints throughout the show as well.
—Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
In addition, independent media company 404 Media recently reported on a mass shooting simulation game created on Roblox that online sleuths linked back to Van Rootselaar.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
That changed earlier this week when internet sleuths found him on the League, a popular online dating app, and began sharing screenshots of his dating profile across various social media platforms.
—Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Seven strangers stranded in a snowstorm at Monkswell Manor all become suspects, and sleuths, when a local woman is murdered.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 4 Feb. 2026
In Short’s case, the flattening is particularly egregious, because the inchoate facts of her life are shoehorned into the obsessions of amateur sleuths who continue to get those facts wrong.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Internet sleuths noticed Baldoni had not posed for photos with Lively on the red carpet.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuths
Noun
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Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide detectives are investigating the crash, said Detective Samantha Choon, an agency spokeswoman.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Jones told detectives his phone was turned off after football practice.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At this stage, investigators have not determined whether the crash was caused by mechanical failure, operational error, or hostile action.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
There are still investigators working leads that they’re not finished with.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuths. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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